Piperidinone carboxamide azaindane cgrp receptor antagonists

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to piperidinone carboxamide indane derivatives which are antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) is a naturally occurring 37-amino acid peptide that is generated by tissue-specific alternate processing of calcitonin messenger RNA and is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system. CGRP is localized predominantly in sensory afferent and central neurons and mediates several biological actions, including vasodilation. CGRP is expressed in alpha- and beta-forms that vary by one and three amino acids in the rat and human, respectively. CGRP-alpha and CGRP-beta display similar biological properties. When released from the cell, CGRP initiates its biological responses by binding to the CGRP receptor which is a heterodimer consisting of the G-protein coupled calcitonin-like receptor (CLR) in association with the single transmembrane protein known as receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP₁). CGRP receptors are predominantly coupled to the activation of adenylyl cyclase and have been identified and pharmacologically evaluated in several tissues and cells, including those of brain, cardiovascular, endothelial, and smooth muscle origin.

CGRP is a potent neuromodulator that has been implicated in the pathology of cerebrovascular disorders such as migraine and cluster headache. In clinical studies, elevated levels of CGRP in the jugular vein were found to occur during migraine attacks (Goadsby et al. (1990) Ann. Neurol. 28, 183-187), salivary levels of CGRP are elevated in migraine subjects between (Bellamy et al. (2006) Headache 46, 24-33) and during attacks (Cady et al. (2009) Headache 49, 1258-1266), and CGRP itself has been shown to trigger migrainous headache (Lassen et al. (2002) Cephalalgia 22, 54-61). In clinical trials, the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN4096BS has been shown to be effective in treating acute attacks of migraine (Olesen et al. (2004) New Engl. J. Med. 350, 1104-1110) and was able to prevent headache induced by CGRP infusion in a control group (Petersen et al. (2005) Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 77, 202-213). The orally bioavailable CGRP receptor antagonist telcagepant has also shown antimigraine effectiveness in phase III clinical trials (Ho et al. (2008) Lancet 372, 2115-2123; Connor et al. (2009) Neurology 73, 970-977).

CGRP-mediated activation of the trigeminovascular system may play a key role in migraine pathogenesis. Additionally, CGRP activates receptors on the smooth muscle of intracranial vessels, leading to increased vasodilation, which is thought to contribute to headache pain during migraine attacks (Lance, Headache Pathogenesis: Monoamines, Neuropeptides, Purines and Nitric Oxide, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 1997, 3-9). The middle meningeal artery, the principle artery in the dura mater, is innervated by sensory fibers from the trigeminal ganglion which contain several neuropeptides, including CGRP. Trigeminal ganglion stimulation in the cat resulted in increased levels of CGRP, and in humans, activation of the trigeminal system caused facial flushing and increased levels of CGRP in the external jugular vein (Goadsby et al. (1988) Ann. Neurol. 23, 193-196). Electrical stimulation of the dura mater in rats increased the diameter of the middle meningeal artery, an effect that was blocked by prior administration of CGRP(8-37), a peptide CGRP receptor antagonist (Williamson et al. (1997) Cephalalgia 17, 525-531). Trigeminal ganglion stimulation increased facial blood flow in the rat, which was inhibited by CGRP(8-37) (Escott et al. (1995) Brain Res. 669, 93-99). Electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion in marmoset produced an increase in facial blood flow that could be blocked by the non-peptide CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN4096BS (Doods et al. (2000) Br. J. Pharmacol. 129, 420-423). Thus the vascular effects of CGRP may be attenuated, prevented or reversed by a CGRP receptor antagonist.

CGRP-mediated vasodilation of rat middle meningeal artery was shown to sensitize neurons of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Williamson et al., The CGRP Family: Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP), Amylin, and Adrenomedullin, Landes Bioscience, 2000, 245-247). Similarly, distention of dural blood vessels during migraine headache may sensitize trigeminal neurons. Some of the associated symptoms of migraine, including extra-cranial pain and facial allodynia, may be the result of sensitized trigeminal neurons (Burstein et al. (2000) Ann. Neurol. 47, 614-624). A CGRP antagonist may be beneficial in attenuating, preventing or reversing the effects of neuronal sensitization.

The ability of the compounds of the present invention to act as CGRP receptor antagonists makes them useful pharmacological agents for disorders that involve CGRP in humans and animals, but particularly in humans. Such disorders include migraine and cluster headache (Doods (2001) Curr. Opin. Invest. Drugs 2, 1261-1268; Edvinsson et al. (1994) Cephalalgia 14, 320-327); chronic tension type headache (Ashina et al. (2000) Neurology 14, 1335-1340); pain (Yu et al. (1998) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 347, 275-282); chronic pain (Hulsebosch et al. (2000) Pain 86, 163-175); neurogenic inflammation and inflammatory pain (Holzer (1988) Neuroscience 24, 739-768; Delay-Goyet et al. (1992) Acta Physiol. Scanda. 146, 537-538; Salmon et al. (2001) Nature Neurosci. 4, 357-358); eye pain (May et al. (2002) Cephalalgia 22, 195-196), tooth pain (Awawdeh et al. (2002) Int. Endocrin. J. 35, 30-36), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Molina et al. (1990) Diabetes 39, 260-265); vascular disorders; inflammation (Zhang et al. (2001) Pain 89, 265); arthritis, bronchial hyperreactivity, asthma, (Foster et al. (1992) Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 657, 397-404; Schini et al. (1994) Am. J. Physiol. 267, H2483-H2490; Zheng et al. (1993) J. Virol. 67, 5786-5791); shock, sepsis (Beer et al. (2002) Crit. Care Med. 30, 1794-1798); opiate withdrawal syndrome (Salmon et al. (2001) Nature Neurosci. 4, 357-358); morphine tolerance (Menard et al. (1996) J. Neurosci. 16, 2342-2351); hot flashes in men and women (Chen et al. (1993) Lancet 342, 49; Spetz et al. (2001) J. Urology 166, 1720-1723); allergic dermatitis (Wallengren (2000) Contact Dermatitis 43, 137-143); psoriasis; encephalitis, brain trauma, ischaemia, stroke, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases (Rohrenbeck et al. (1999) Neurobiol. Dis. 6, 15-34); skin diseases (Geppetti and Holzer, Eds., Neurogenic Inflammation, 1996, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.), neurogenic cutaneous redness, skin rosaceousness and erythema; tinnitus (Herzog et al. (2002) J. Membr. Biol. 189, 225); obesity (Walker et al. (2010) Endocrinology 151, 4257-4269); inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, (Hoffman et al. (2002) Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 37, 414-422) and cystitis. Of particular importance is the acute or prophylactic treatment of headache, including migraine and cluster headache.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,798, granted Jun. 24, 2008, discloses carboxamide CGRP receptor antagonists. The present invention is directed to a class of highly potent CGRP receptor antagonists as compared to earlier disclosed analogues, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use in therapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to piperidinone carboxamide indane derivatives which are highly potent antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a genus of compounds of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is selected from —C(R⁸)═ or —N═, wherein R⁸ is hydrogen, F or CN; R¹ is selected from the group consisting of: C₁₋₄alkyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl and [1-(trifluoromethyl)cyclopropyl]methyl, each of which is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as allowed by valence independently selected from the group consisting of: F and hydroxy; R² is selected from hydrogen and methyl; when R² is hydrogen then

-   -   R³ is selected from hydrogen, F or Cl;     -   R⁴ is selected from hydrogen, F or Cl;     -   R⁵ is hydrogen;     -   R⁶ is selected from hydrogen or F; and     -   R⁷ is selected from hydrogen, F or Cl;     -   except that at least two of R³, R⁴, R⁶ and R⁷ must be F or Cl         unless R³ is F in which case R⁴, R⁶ and R⁷ may all be hydrogen;         and if R⁴ is Cl then R⁷ cannot be Cl;         when R² is methyl then     -   R³ is selected from hydrogen, methyl, F, Cl, or Br;     -   R⁴ is selected from hydrogen, methyl, F or Cl;     -   R⁵ is selected from hydrogen or F;     -   R⁶ is selected from hydrogen or F; and     -   R⁷ is selected from hydrogen, methyl, F or Cl;     -   except that if R⁵ is F then at least three of R³, R⁴, R⁶ and R⁷         must be F; and if R⁴ is methyl or Cl then R⁷ cannot be methyl or         Cl.

Within the genus, the invention encompasses a first sub-genus of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X is —N═.

Also within the genus, the invention encompasses a second sub-genus of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X is —CH═.

Also within the genus, the invention encompasses a third sub-genus of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X is —C(CN)═.

Also within the genus, the invention encompasses a fourth sub-genus of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹ is C₁₋₄alkyl, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 F or hydroxy, or both.

Within the fourth sub-genus, the invention encompasses a first class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹ is selected from: isopropyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl and 2-methylpropyl.

Within the first class, the invention encompasses a first sub-class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹ is 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl.

Also within the genus, the invention encompasses a fifth sub-genus of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R² is hydrogen.

Within the fifth sub-genus, the invention encompasses a second class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein at least two of R³, R⁴, R⁶ and R⁷ are F or Cl, except that if R⁴ is Cl then R⁷ cannot be Cl.

Also within the fifth sub-genus, the invention encompasses a third class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R³ is F and R⁴, R⁶ and R⁷ are hydrogen.

Also within the genus, the invention encompasses a sixth sub-genus of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R² is methyl.

Within the sixth sub-genus, the invention encompasses a fourth class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R⁵ is F and at least three of R³, R⁴, R⁶ and R⁷ are F.

Also within the sixth sub-genus, the invention encompasses a fifth class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R⁵ is hydrogen and if R⁴ is methyl or Cl then R⁷ cannot be methyl or Cl.

Also within the sixth sub-genus, the invention encompasses a sixth class of compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R³ is selected from hydrogen, F or Cl; R⁴ is selected from hydrogen, F or Cl; R⁵ is hydrogen; R⁶ is selected from hydrogen or F; and R⁷ is selected from hydrogen, F or Cl; except that if R⁴ is Cl then R⁷ cannot be Cl.

The invention also encompases a compound selected from the following:

TABLE 3

R² Ar H 3,5-difluorophenyl H 2,3-difluorophenyl H 2,5-difluorophenyl H 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl H 2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl H 2,6-dichlorophenyl H 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl Me 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl Me 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl H 2-fluorophenyl

TABLE 4

R¹ Ar 2-methylpropyl 2,3-difluorophenyl isopropyl 2,3-difluorophenyl

TABLE 5

R² Ar Me phenyl Me 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl Me 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl

TABLE 6

R² Ar Me phenyl Me 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl Me 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl Me 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition which comprises an inert carrier and the compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention also encompasses a method of treating headache in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, which comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the headache is migraine headache.

The invention also encompasses the use of a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of headache. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the headache is migraine headache.

The invention is also directed to medicaments or pharmaceutical compositions for treating diseases or disorders in which CGRP is involved, such as migraine, which comprise a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The invention is also directed to the use of a compound of Formula I for treating diseases or disorders in which CGRP is involved, such as migraine.

The invention is further directed to a method for the manufacture of a medicament or a composition for treating diseases or disorders in which CGRP is involved, such as migraine, comprising combining a compound of Formula I with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

The compounds of the present invention may contain one or more asymmetric centers and can thus occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers. Additional asymmetric centers may be present depending upon the nature of the various substituents on the molecule. Each such asymmetric center will independently produce two optical isomers and it is intended that all of the possible optical isomers and diastereomers in mixtures and as pure or partially purified compounds are included within the ambit of this invention. Unless a specific stereochemistry is indicated, the present invention is meant to comprehend all such isomeric forms of these compounds.

The independent syntheses of these diastereomers or their chromatographic separations may be achieved as known in the art by appropriate modification of the methodology disclosed herein. Their absolute stereochemistry may be determined by the x-ray crystallography of crystalline products or crystalline intermediates which are derivatized, if necessary, with a reagent containing an asymmetric center of known absolute configuration.

If desired, racemic mixtures of the compounds may be separated so that the individual enantiomers are isolated. The separation can be carried out by methods well known in the art, such as the coupling of a racemic mixture of compounds to an enantiomerically pure compound to form a diastereomeric mixture, followed by separation of the individual diastereomers by standard methods, such as fractional crystallization or chromatography. The coupling reaction is often the formation of salts using an enantiomerically pure acid or base. The diasteromeric derivatives may then be converted to the pure enantiomers by cleavage of the added chiral residue. The racemic mixture of the compounds can also be separated directly by chromatographic methods utilizing chiral stationary phases, which methods are well known in the art.

Alternatively, any enantiomer of a compound may be obtained by stereoselective synthesis using optically pure starting materials or reagents of known configuration by methods well known in the art.

In the compounds of Formula I, the atoms may exhibit their natural isotopic abundances, or one or more of the atoms may be artificially enriched in a particular isotope having the same atomic number, but an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number predominantly found in nature. The present invention is meant to include all suitable isotopic variations of the compounds of generic Formula I. For example, different isotopic forms of hydrogen (H) include protium (¹H) and deuterium (²H). Protium is the predominant hydrogen isotope found in nature. Enriching for deuterium may afford certain therapeutic advantages, such as increasing in vivo half-life or reducing dosage requirements, or may provide a compound useful as a standard for characterization of biological samples. Isotopically-enriched compounds within generic Formula I can be prepared without undue experimentation by conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described in the Schemes and Examples herein using appropriate isotopically-enriched reagents and/or intermediates.

Tautomers of compounds defined in Formula I are also included within the scope of the present invention. For example, compounds including carbonyl —CH₂C(O)— groups (keto forms) may undergo tautomerism to form hydroxyl —CH═C(OH)— groups (enol forms). Both keto and enol forms are included within the scope of the present invention.

As used herein, “alkyl” is intended to mean linear or branched structures having no carbon-to-carbon double or triple bonds. Thus, C₁₋₄ alkyl is defined to identify the group as having 1, 2, 3 or 4 carbons in a linear or branched arrangement, such that C₁₋₄alkyl specifically includes, but is not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl and tert-butyl.

As is well understood by one having ordinary skill in the art, “F” means fluoro, “Cl” means chloro and “Br” means bromo.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refer to derivatives wherein the parent compound is modified by making acid or base salts thereof. Salts in the solid form may exist in more than one crystal structure, and may also be in the form of hydrates. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines; alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as carboxylic acids; and the like. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the conventional non-toxic salts or the quaternary ammonium salts of the parent compound formed, for example, from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids. For example, such conventional non-toxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric and the like; and the salts prepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxybenzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, and the like. Salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc, and the like.

When the compound of the present invention is basic, salts may be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids, including inorganic and organic acids. Such acids include acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like. In one aspect of the invention the salts are citric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, maleic, phosphoric, sulfuric, fumaric, and tartaric acids. It will be understood that, as used herein, references to the compounds of Formula I are meant to also include the pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Exemplifying the invention is the use of the compounds disclosed in the Examples and herein. Specific compounds within the present invention include a compound which may be selected from the group consisting of the compounds disclosed in the following Examples and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and individual diastereomers thereof.

The subject compounds are useful in a method of antagonism of CGRP receptors in a patient such as a mammal in need of such antagonism comprising the administration of an effective amount of the compound. The present invention is directed to the use of the compounds disclosed herein as antagonists of CGRP receptors. In addition to primates, especially humans, a variety of other mammals can be treated according to the method of the present invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for the treatment, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of a disease or disorder in which the CGRP receptor is involved in a patient that comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that is an antagonist of CGRP receptors.

The present invention is further directed to a method for the manufacture of a medicament for antagonism of CGRP receptors activity in humans and animals comprising combining a compound of the present invention with a pharmaceutical carrier or diluent.

The subject treated in the present methods is generally a mammal, for example a human being, male or female, in whom antagonism of CGRP receptor activity is desired. The term “therapeutically effective amount” means the amount of the subject compound that will elicit the biological or medical response of a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician. As used herein, the term “treatment” refers both to the treatment and to the prevention or prophylactic therapy of the mentioned conditions, particularly in a patient who is predisposed to such disease or disorder.

The term “composition” as used herein is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts. Such term in relation to pharmaceutical composition, is intended to encompass a product comprising the active ingredient(s), and the inert ingredient(s) that make up the carrier, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination, complexation or aggregation of any two or more of the ingredients, or from dissociation of one or more of the ingredients, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one or more of the ingredients. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention encompass any composition made by admixing a compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. By “pharmaceutically acceptable” it is meant the carrier, diluent or excipient must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.

The present invention includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds of this invention. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of the compounds of this invention which are readily convertible in vivo into the required compound. Thus, in the methods of treatment of the present invention, the terms “administration of” or “administering a” compound shall encompass the treatment of the various conditions described with the compound specifically disclosed or with a compound which may not be specifically disclosed, but which converts to the specified compound in vivo after administration to the patient. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrug derivatives are described, for example, in “Design of Prodrugs,” ed. H. Bundgaard, Elsevier, 1985. Metabolites of these compounds include active species produced upon introduction of compounds of this invention into the biological milieu.

The ability of the compounds of the present invention to act as CGRP receptor antagonists makes them useful pharmacological agents for disorders that involve CGRP in humans and animals, but particularly in humans.

The compounds of the present invention have utility in treating, preventing, ameliorating, controlling or reducing the risk of one or more of the following conditions or diseases: headache; migraine; cluster headache; chronic tension type headache; pain; chronic pain; neurogenic inflammation and inflammatory pain; neuropathic pain; eye pain; tooth pain; diabetes; non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; vascular disorders; inflammation; arthritis; bronchial hyperreactivity, asthma; shock; sepsis; opiate withdrawal syndrome; morphine tolerance; hot flashes in men and women; allergic dermatitis; psoriasis; encephalitis; brain trauma; epilepsy; neurodegenerative diseases; skin diseases; neurogenic cutaneous redness, skin rosaceousness and erythema; obesity; inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cystitis; and other conditions that may be treated or prevented by antagonism of CGRP receptors. Of particular importance is the acute or prophylactic treatment of headache, including migraine and cluster headache.

The subject compounds are further useful in a method for the prevention, treatment, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of the diseases, disorders and conditions noted herein.

The subject compounds are further useful in a method for the prevention, treatment, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of the aforementioned diseases, disorders and conditions in combination with other agents.

The compounds of the present invention may be used in combination with one or more other drugs in the treatment, prevention, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of diseases or conditions for which compounds of Formula I or the other drugs may have utility, where the combination of the drugs together are safer or more effective than either drug alone. Such other drug(s) may be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor, contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound of Formula I. When a compound of Formula I is used contemporaneously with one or more other drugs, a pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form containing such other drugs and the compound of Formula I is preferred. However, the combination therapy may also include therapies in which the compound of Formula I and one or more other drugs are administered on different overlapping schedules. It is also contemplated that when used in combination with one or more other active ingredients, the compounds of the present invention and the other active ingredients may be used in lower doses than when each is used singly. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include those that contain one or more other active ingredients, in addition to a compound of Formula I.

For example, the present compounds may be used in conjunction with an an anti-migraine agent, such as ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, or other serotonin agonists, especially a 5-HT_(1B/1D) agonist, for example sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, eletriptan, almotriptan, frovatriptan, donitriptan, and rizatriptan, a 5-HT_(1D) agonist such as PNU-142633 and a 5-HT_(1F) agonist such as LY334370; a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, such as a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, for example rofecoxib, etoricoxib, celecoxib, valdecoxib or paracoxib; a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent or a cytokine-suppressing anti-inflammatory agent, for example with a compound such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, fenoprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, sulindac, meloxicam, piroxicam, tenoxicam, lornoxicam, ketorolac, etodolac, mefenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, flufenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, diclofenac, oxaprozin, apazone, nimesulide, nabumetone, tenidap, etanercept, tolmetin, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, diflunisal, salsalate, olsalazine or sulfasalazine and the like; or glucocorticoids. Similarly, the instant compounds may be administered with an analgesic such as aspirin, acetaminophen, phenacetin, fentanyl, sufentanil, methadone, acetyl methadol, buprenorphine or morphine.

Additionally, the present compounds may be used in conjunction with an interleukin inhibitor, such as an interleukin-1 inhibitor; an NK-1 receptor antagonist, for example aprepitant; an NMDA antagonist; an NR²B antagonist; a bradykinin-1 receptor antagonist; an adenosine A1 receptor agonist; a sodium channel blocker, for example lamotrigine; an opiate agonist such as levomethadyl acetate or methadyl acetate; a lipoxygenase inhibitor, such as an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase; an alpha receptor antagonist, for example indoramin; an alpha receptor agonist; a vanilloid receptor antagonist; a renin inhibitor; a granzyme B inhibitor; a substance P antagonist; an endothelin antagonist; a norepinephrin precursor; anti-anxiety agents such as diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide and chlorazepate; serotonin 5HT₂ receptor antagonists; opiod agonists such as codeine, hydrocodone, tramadol, dextropropoxyphene and febtanyl; an mGluR⁵ agonist, antagonist or potentiator; a GABA A receptor modulator, for example acamprosate calcium; nicotinic antagonists or agonists including nicotine; muscarinic agonists or antagonists; a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, for example fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, escitalopram, or citalopram; an antidepressant, for example amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine, venlafaxine, doxepin, protriptyline, desipramine, trimipramine, or imipramine; a leukotriene antagonist, for example montelukast or zafirlukast; an inhibitor of nitric oxide or an inhibitor of the synthesis of nitric oxide.

Also, the present compounds may be used in conjunction with gap junction inhibitors; neuronal calcium channel blockers such as civamide; AMPA/KA antagonists such as LY293558; sigma receptor agonists; and vitamin B2.

Also, the present compounds may be used in conjunction with ergot alkaloids other than ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, for example ergonovine, ergonovine, methylergonovine, metergoline, ergoloid mesylates, dihydroergocornine, dihydroergocristine, dihydroergocryptine, dihydro-α-ergocryptine, dihydro-β-ergocryptine, ergotoxine, ergocornine, ergocristine, ergocryptine, α-ergocryptine, β-ergocryptine, ergosine, ergostane, bromocriptine, or methysergide.

Additionally, the present compounds may be used in conjunction with a beta-adrenergic antagonist such as timolol, propanolol, atenolol, metoprolol or nadolol, and the like; a MAO inhibitor, for example phenelzine; a calcium channel blocker, for example flunarizine, diltiazem, amlodipine, felodipine, nisolipine, isradipine, nimodipine, lomerizine, verapamil, nifedipine, or prochlorperazine; neuroleptics such as olanzapine, droperidol, prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine and quetiapine; an anticonvulsant such as topiramate, zonisamide, tonabersat, carabersat, levetiracetam, lamotrigine, tiagabine, gabapentin, pregabalin or divalproex sodium; an anti-hypertensive such as an angiotensin II antagonist, for example losartan, irbesartin, valsartan, eprosartan, telmisartan, olmesartan, medoxomil, candesartan and candesartan cilexetil, an angiotensin I antagonist, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor such as lisinopril, enalapril, captopril, benazepril, quinapril, perindopril, ramipril and trandolapril; or botulinum toxin type A or B.

The present compounds may be used in conjunction with a potentiator such as caffeine, an H2-antagonist, simethicone, aluminum or magnesium hydroxide; a decongestant such as oxymetazoline, epinephrine, naphazoline, xylometazoline, propylhexedrine, or levo-desoxy-ephedrine; an antitussive such as caramiphen, carbetapentane, or dextromethorphan; a diuretic; a prokinetic agent such as metoclopramide or domperidone; a sedating or non-sedating antihistamine such as acrivastine, azatadine, bromodiphenhydramine, brompheniramine, carbinoxamine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, dexbrompheniramine, dexchlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, loratadine, phenindamine, pheniramine, phenyltoloxamine, promethazine, pyrilamine, terfenadine, triprolidine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine. The present compounds also may be used in conjunction with anti-emetics.

In an embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used in conjunction with an anti-migraine agent, such as: ergotamine or dihydroergotamine; a 5-HT₁ agonist, especially a 5-HT_(1B/1D) agonist, in particular, sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, eletriptan, almotriptan, frovatriptan, donitriptan, avitriptan and rizatriptan, and other serotonin agonists; and a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, such as a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, in particular, rofecoxib, etoricoxib, celecoxib, valdecoxib or paracoxib.

The above combinations include combinations of a compound of the present invention not only with one other active compound, but also with two or more other active compounds. Likewise, compounds of the present invention may be used in combination with other drugs that are used in the prevention, treatment, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of the diseases or conditions for which compounds of the present invention are useful. Such other drugs may be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefore, contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound of the present invention. When a compound of the present invention is used contemporaneously with one or more other drugs, a pharmaceutical composition containing such other drugs in addition to the compound of the present invention is preferred. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include those that also contain one or more other active ingredients, in addition to a compound of the present invention.

The weight ratio of the compound of the compound of the present invention to the other active ingredient(s) may be varied and will depend upon the effective dose of each ingredient. Generally, an effective dose of each will be used. Thus, for example, when a compound of the present invention is combined with another agent, the weight ratio of the compound of the present invention to the other agent will generally range from about 1000:1 to about 1:1000, or from about 200:1 to about 1:200. Combinations of a compound of the present invention and other active ingredients will generally also be within the aforementioned range, but in each case, an effective dose of each active ingredient should be used.

In such combinations the compound of the present invention and other active agents may be administered separately or in conjunction. In addition, the administration of one element may be prior to, concurrent to, or subsequent to the administration of other agent(s), and via the same or different routes of administration.

The compounds of the present invention may be administered by oral, parenteral (e.g., intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, ICV, intracisternal injection or infusion, subcutaneous injection, or implant), by inhalation spray, nasal, vaginal, rectal, sublingual, buccal or topical routes of administration and may be formulated, alone or together, in suitable dosage unit formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles appropriate for each route of administration. In addition to the treatment of warm-blooded animals the compounds of the invention are effective for use in humans.

The pharmaceutical compositions for the administration of the compounds of this invention may conveniently be presented in dosage unit form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy. All methods include the step of bringing the active ingredient into association with the carrier which constitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the pharmaceutical compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing the active ingredient into association with a liquid carrier or a finely divided solid carrier or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulation. In the pharmaceutical composition the active compound is included in an amount sufficient to produce the desired effect upon the process or condition of diseases. As used herein, the term “composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts.

The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, solutions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia; and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate may be employed. They may also be coated by the techniques described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,256,108; 4,166,452; and 4,265,874 to form osmotic therapeutic tablets for control release. Oral tablets may also be formulated for immediate release, such as fast melt tablets or wafers, rapid dissolve tablets or fast dissolve films.

Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil.

Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxy-propylmethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl, p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin.

Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.

Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean, lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.

Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

The compounds of the present invention may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials are cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols.

For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions and the like, containing the compounds of the present invention are employed. Similarly, transdermal patches may also be used for topical administration.

The pharmaceutical composition and method of the present invention may further comprise other therapeutically active compounds as noted herein which are usually applied in the treatment of the above mentioned pathological conditions.

In the treatment, prevention, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of conditions which require antagonism of CGRP receptor activity an appropriate dosage level will generally be about 0.01 to 500 mg per kg patient body weight per day which can be administered in single or multiple doses. A suitable dosage level may be about 0.01 to 250 mg/kg per day, about 0.05 to 100 mg/kg per day, or about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg per day. Within this range the dosage may be 0.05 to 0.5, 0.5 to 5 or 5 to 50 mg/kg per day. For oral administration, the compositions are may be provided in the form of tablets containing 1.0 to 1000 milligrams of the active ingredient, particularly 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0. 20.0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0, 250.0, 300.0, 400.0, 500.0, 600.0, 750.0, 800.0, 900.0, and 1000.0 milligrams of the active ingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage to the patient to be treated. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, or may be administered once or twice per day.

When treating, preventing, controlling, ameliorating, or reducing the risk of headache, migraine, cluster headache, or other diseases for which compounds of the present invention are indicated, generally satisfactory results are obtained when the compounds of the present invention are administered at a daily dosage of from about 0.1 milligram to about 100 milligram per kilogram of animal body weight, given as a single daily dose or in divided doses two to six times a day, or in sustained release form. For most large mammals, the total daily dosage is from about 1.0 milligrams to about 1000 milligrams, or from about 1 milligrams to about 50 milligrams. In the case of a 70 kg adult human, the total daily dose will generally be from about 7 milligrams to about 350 milligrams. This dosage regimen may be adjusted to provide the optimal therapeutic response.

It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level and frequency of dosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, mode and time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity of the particular condition, and the host undergoing therapy.

The utility of the compounds in accordance with the present invention as antagonists of CGRP receptor activity may be demonstrated by methodology known in the art Inhibition of the binding of ¹²⁵I-CGRP to receptors and functional antagonism of CGRP receptors were determined as follows:

NATIVE RECEPTOR BINDING ASSAY: The binding of ¹²⁵I-CGRP to receptors in SK-N-MC cell membranes was carried out essentially as described (Edvinsson et al. (2001) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 415, 39-44). Briefly, membranes (25 μg) were incubated in 1 mL of binding buffer [10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 5 mM MgCl₂ and 0.2% bovine serum albumin (BSA)] containing 10 pM ¹²⁵I-CGRP and antagonist. After incubation at room temperature for 3 h, the assay was terminated by filtration through GFB glass fibre filter plates (PerkinElmer) that had been blocked with 0.5% polyethyleneimine for 3 h. The filters were washed three times with ice-cold assay buffer (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4 and 5 mM MgCl₂), then the plates were air dried. Scintillation fluid (50 μL) was added and the radioactivity was counted on a Topcount (Packard Instrument). Data analysis was carried out by using Prism and the K_(i) was determined by using the Cheng-Prusoff equation (Cheng & Prusoff (1973) Biochem. Pharmacol. 22, 3099-3108).

RECOMBINANT RECEPTOR: Human CL receptor (Genbank accession number L76380) was subcloned into the expression vector pIREShyg2 (BD Biosciences Clontech) as a 5′NheI and 3′ PmeI fragment. Human RAMP1 (Genbank accession number AJ001014) was subcloned into the expression vector pIRESpuro2 (BD Biosciences Clontech) as a 5′NheI and 3′NotI fragment. HEK 293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells; ATCC #CRL-1573) were cultured in DMEM with 4.5 g/L glucose, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and 2 mM glutamine supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 units/mL penicillin and 100 μg/mL streptomycin, and maintained at 37° C. and 95% humidity. Cells were subcultured by treatment with 0.25% trypsin with 0.1% EDTA in HBSS. Stable cell line generation was accomplished by co-transfecting 10 μg of DNA with 30 μg Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) in 75 cm² flasks. CL receptor and RAMP1 expression constructs were co-transfected in equal amounts. Twenty-four hours after transfection the cells were diluted and selective medium (growth medium+300 μg/mL hygromycin and 1 μg/mL puromycin) was added the following day. A clonal cell line was generated by single cell deposition utilizing a FACS Vantage SE (Becton Dickinson). Growth medium was adjusted to 150 μg/mL hygromycin and 0.5 μg/mL puromycin for cell propagation.

RECOMBINANT RECEPTOR BINDING ASSAY: Cells expressing recombinant human CL receptor/RAMP1 were washed with PBS and harvested in harvest buffer containing 50 mM HEPES, 1 mM EDTA and Complete™ protease inhibitors (Roche). The cell suspension was disrupted with a laboratory homogenizer and centrifuged at 48,000 g to isolate membranes. The pellets were resuspended in harvest buffer plus 250 mM sucrose and stored at −70° C. For binding assays, 20 μg of membranes were incubated in 1 mL binding buffer (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 5 mM MgCl₂, and 0.2% BSA) for 3 h at room temperature containing 10 pM ¹²⁵I-hCGRP (GE Healthcare) and antagonist. The assay was terminated by filtration through 96-well GFB glass fiber filter plates (PerkinElmer) that had been blocked with 0.05% polyethyleneimine. The filters were washed 3 times with ice-cold assay buffer (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, and 5 mM MgCl₂). Scintillation fluid was added and the plates were counted on a Topcount (Packard). Non-specific binding was determined and the data analysis was carried out with the apparent dissociation constant (K_(i)) determined by using a non-linear least squares fitting the bound CPM data to the equation below:

$Y_{obsd} = \frac{\begin{matrix} {{\left( {Y_{\max} - Y_{\min}} \right)\left( {{\% \mspace{20mu} I_{\max}} - {\%_{\mspace{14mu} {Imin}}/100}} \right)} +} \\ {Y_{\min} + {\left( {Y_{\max} - Y_{\min}} \right)\left( {100 - {\% \mspace{14mu} {I_{\max}/100}}} \right)}} \end{matrix}}{1 + \left( {\lbrack{Drug}\rbrack/{K_{i}\left( {1 + {\lbrack{Radiolabel}\rbrack/K_{d}}} \right)}^{nH}} \right.}$

Where Y is observed CPM bound, Y_(max) is total bound counts, Y_(min) is non specific bound counts, (Y_(max)−Y_(min)) is specific bound counts, % I_(max) is the maximum percent inhibition, % I min is the minimum percent inhibition, radiolabel is the probe, and the K_(d) is the apparent dissociation constant for the radioligand for the receptor as determined by hot saturation experiments.

RECOMBINANT RECEPTOR FUNCTIONAL ASSAY: Cells were resuspended in DMEM/F12 (Hyclone) supplemented with 1 g/L BSA and 300 μM isobutyl-methylxanthine. Cells were then plated in a 384-well plate (Proxiplate Plus 384; 509052761; Perkin-Elmer) at a density of 2,000 cells/well and incubated with antagonist for 30 min at 37° C. Human α-CGRP was then added to the cells at a final concentration of 1.2 nM and incubated an additional 20 min at 37° C. Following agonist stimulation, the cells were processed for cAMP determination using the two-step procedure according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol (HTRF cAMP dynamic 2 assay kit; 62AM4PEC; Cisbio). Raw data were transformed into concentration of cAMP using a standard curve then dose response curves were plotted and inflection point (IP) values were determined.

Examplary K_(i) values in the recombinant receptor binding assay for exemplary compounds of the invention are provided in the table below:

Example K_(i) (nM) 1 0.079 2 0.17 3 0.039 4 0.18 5 0.061 9 0.24 12 0.025 14 0.032 16 0.13 20 0.021

CGRP binding data of analogues disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,798 are shown in the following table:

Compound K_(i) (nM) Example 8 from U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,798 7.4

Example 9 from U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,798 1.9

Example 10 from U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,798 1.7

Example 32 from U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,798 possessed sub-nanomolar potency but is structurally distinct from the compounds of the invention described herein.

The following abbreviations are used throughout the text:

-   -   Me: methyl     -   Et: ethyl     -   t-Bu: tert-butyl     -   Bu: butyl     -   i-Pr: isopropyl     -   Ar: aryl     -   Ph: phenyl     -   Bn: benzyl     -   Py: pyridyl     -   Ac: acetylate     -   OAc: acetate     -   DCE: 1,2-dichloroethane     -   TFA: trifluoroacetic acid     -   TEA: triethylamine     -   Boc: tert-butoxycarbonyl     -   BOP: (Benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium         hexafluorophosphate     -   DIEA: N,N-diisopropylethylamine     -   HOBT: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole     -   EDC: N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide         hydrochloride     -   PyCIU: chlorodipyrrolidinocarbenium     -   n-BuLi: n-butyllithium     -   HATU: O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′N′-tetramethyluronium         hexafluorophosphate     -   EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid     -   DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide     -   HMDS: hex amethyldisilazane     -   THF: tetrahydrofuran     -   DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide     -   SEM: 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl     -   SEMCl: 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl chloride     -   PBPB: pyridinium bromide perbromide     -   DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (High Glucose)     -   FBS: fetal bovine serum     -   BSA: bovine serum albumin     -   PBS: phosphate-buffered saline     -   HEPES: N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-(2-ethanesulfonic acid)     -   min: minutes     -   h: hours     -   aq: aqueous     -   HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography     -   LCMS: liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry     -   SFC: supercritical fluid chromatography     -   NMP: 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone     -   DMA: N,N-dimethylacetamide     -   NBS: N-bromosuccinimide     -   dppf: 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene     -   dba: dibenzylideneacetone     -   Ms: methanesulfonyl     -   p-Ts: 4-toluenesulfonyl     -   trisyl: 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl     -   DMAP: 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine

Methods for preparing the compounds of this invention are illustrated in the following Schemes and Examples. Starting materials are made according to procedures known in the art or as illustrated herein.

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared readily according to the following Schemes and specific examples, or modifications thereof, using readily available starting materials, reagents and conventional synthesis procedures. In these reactions, it is also possible to make use of variants which are themselves known to those of ordinary skill in this art but are not mentioned in greater detail. The general procedures for making the compounds claimed in this invention can be readily understood and appreciated by one skilled in the art from viewing the following Schemes.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to certain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations, changes, modifications, substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures and protocols may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, effective dosages other than the particular dosages as set forth herein above may be applicable as a consequence of variations in the responsiveness of the mammal being treated for any of the indications with the compounds of the invention indicated above. Likewise, the specific pharmacological responses observed may vary according to and depending upon the particular active compounds selected or whether there are present pharmaceutical carriers, as well as the type of formulation and mode of administration employed, and such expected variations or differences in the results are contemplated in accordance with the objects and practices of the present invention. It is intended, therefore, that the invention be defined by the scope of the claims which follow and that such claims be interpreted as broadly as is reasonable.

REACTION SCHEMES

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared readily according to the following Schemes and specific examples, or modifications thereof, using readily available starting materials, reagents and conventional synthetic procedures. In these reactions, it is also possible to make use of variants which are themselves known to those of ordinary skill in this art but are not mentioned in greater detail. The general procedures for making the compounds claimed in this invention can be readily understood and appreciated by one skilled in the art from viewing the following Schemes.

Scheme 1 illustrates a route to 3-aminopiperidinone intermediates of type 1.5 which may be used to prepare compounds of the present invention. Aryl acetone 1.1 can be alkylated using iodoalanine derivative 1.2 under basic conditions to provide keto ester 1.3. Reductive amination followed by cyclization and epimerization provides primarily cis-substituted lactam 1.4 as a racemic mixture. Chiral resolution using normal-phase liquid chromatography, for example, and removal of the Boc protecting group under acidic conditions furnishes 3-aminopiperidinone 1.5 as a hydrochloride salt.

A synthetic route to 3-aminopiperidinone intermediates of type 2.4 is shown in Scheme 2. Aryl acetonitrile 2.1 can be alkylated using iodoalanine derivative 1.2 under basic conditions to provide cyano ester 2.2. Reductive cyclization using hydrogen and palladium hydroxide on carbon or Raney nickel, epimerization, and chiral resolution affords the cis-substituted lactam 2.3 as a single enantiomer. N-alkylation and removal of the Boc protecting group then provides 2.4 as a hydrochloride salt.

Scheme 3 illustrates an alternative route to 3-aminopiperidinone intermediates of type 2.4. The arylacetonitrile 3.1 may be condensed with acrylate 3.2 at elevated temperature to give the 4-cyanobutanoate ester 3.3. Hydrogenation of nitrile 3.3 using Raney nickel catalyst and an ethanolic solution of ammonia affords the corresponding amine product, which typically cyclizes in situ to provide piperidinone 3.4. N-Alkylation of lactam 3.4 may be accomplished by a variety of methods known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis, the exact choice of conditions being influenced by the nature of the alkylating agent, R¹X. Electrophilic azidation of the resulting substituted lactam 3.5 can be accomplished using similar methodology to that described by Evans and coworkers (Evans et al. (1990) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112, 4011-4030) to provide the azide 3.6 as a mixture of diastereoisomers, which can be separated by chromatography. The desired cis diastereomer of azide 3.6 may be reduced by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate to give the corresponding Boc-protected amine 3.7, and separation of the enantiomers using chiral HPLC or SFC leads to the (3S,5S)-isomer 3.8. Finally, standard deprotection affords the desired 3-aminopiperidinone intermediates 2.4.

Another approach to 3-aminopiperidinone intermediates of interest, which is particularly useful for preparing 3-amino-6-methyl-5-arylpiperidin-2-ones such as 1.5, is outlined in Scheme 4. The pyridinone 4.1 may be converted to the N-substituted pyridinone 4.2 by treatment with a suitable electrophile (R¹X) under basic conditions. Pyridinone 4.2 can then be subjected to Suzuki coupling with the boronic acid 4.3, and the resulting 5-arylpyridinone 4.4 may be hydrogenated using, for example, platinum(IV) oxide catalyst to afford the corresponding 5-arylpiperidinone 4.5, which is usually obtained as predominantly the cis isomer. Further elaboration of piperidinone 4.5 may be achieved using analogous methodology to that described in Scheme 6. Specifically, electrophilic azidation followed by one-pot reduction and Boc protection leads to carbamate 4.7, and the desired enantiomer may be obtained using chiral chromatography. In some cases, the desired diastereomer of azide 4.6 may be isolated as a racemic mixture of the (3S,5S,6R)- and (3R,5R,6S)-isomers following silica gel chromatography of the crude product, and this mixture may be elaborated as outlined in Scheme 7. In other cases, it may be advantageous to take a mixture of diastereomers of azide 4.6 forward to the corresponding carbamate 4.7. The mixture of carbamate 4.7 diastereomers may be epimerized under basic conditions, such as potassium carbonate in EtOH, to afford a mixture that is significantly enriched in the desired (3S,5S,6R)- and (3R,5R,6S)-isomers, further purification may be employed to obtain the enantiomer of interest as outlined herein.

A synthetic route to the azaoxindole indane acid intermediate 5.17 is shown in Scheme 5. Esterification of diacid 5.1 followed by hydrogenation using palladium on carbon as a catalyst provides aniline 5.2. Dibenzylation under basic conditions with heat affords 5.3, and reduction of the diester with LiAlH₄ furnishes diol 5.4. Chlorination with thionyl chloride provides benzyl chloride 5.5. Palladium-catalyzed amination of bromide 5.6 with tert-butylamine gives 5.7. Sequential treatment with n-hexyllithium and methyl chloroformate (2×) affords azaoxindole ester 5.8. Alkylation with the benzylchloride 5.5 under basic conditions in the presence of the cinchonidine-derived catalyst 5.12 (prepared via the alkylation of cinchonidine 5.10 with benzyl bromide 5.11) affords spirocycle 5.13. Deprotection of the azaoxindole using methanesulfonic acid with heat and debenzylation under standard hydrogenation conditions provides aniline 5.14. Diazotization followed by treatment with potassium iodide provides iodide 5.15. Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation in methanol then affords ester 5.16, which may be saponified with sodium hydroxide to furnish 5.17.

An alternative synthesis of the azaoxindole pyridine acid intermediate 5.17 is shown in Scheme 6. Alkylation of the azaoxindole ester 5.8 with dibenzyl bromide 6.1 followed by chiral resolution of the enantiomers provides ester 6.2. Sequential deprotection of the azaoxindole using methanesulfonic acid with heat and hydrolysis of the ester provides 5.17.

A synthetic route to the diazaoxindole carboxylic acid intermediate 7.4 is shown in Scheme 7. Alkylation of dibromide 6.1 with oxindole 7.1 under basic conditions and subsequent chiral resolution affords spirocycle 7.2. Dechlorination under buffered hydrogenation conditions and ester hydrolysis then affords acid 7.4.

Useful derivatives of the intermediates described herein may be prepared using well-precedented methodology. One such example is illustrated in Scheme 8, in which the azaoxindole intermediate 5.17 is converted to the corresponding nitrile derivative 8.2, which may be used to prepare compounds of the present invention. Treatment of 5.17 with bromine in acetic acid provides the bromo derivative 8.1, which may be converted to the desired nitrile 8.2 using zinc cyanide and a palladium catalyst as shown.

Scheme 9 illustrates conditions that can be used for the coupling of 3-aminopiperidinone intermediates, such as 9.1, and carboxylic acid intermediate 9.2, to produce, in this instance, amides 9.3. These standard coupling conditions are representative of the methods used to prepare the compounds of the present invention.

In some cases, various protecting group strategies familiar to one skilled in the art of organic synthesis may be employed to allow preparation of a particular compound of the present invention.

It is understood that alternative methodologies may also be employed in the synthesis of these key intermediates. For instance, racemic reaction sequences may be utilized, followed by chiral separations at appropriate steps to provide compounds of the present invention. The exact choice of reagents, solvents, temperatures, and other reaction conditions, depends upon the nature of the intended product. In some cases, appropriate protecting group strategies may be used.

In some cases the final product may be further modified, for example, by manipulation of substituents. These manipulations may include, but are not limited to, reduction, oxidation, alkylation, acylation, and hydrolysis reactions which are commonly known to those skilled in the art.

In some cases the order of carrying out the foregoing reaction schemes may be varied to facilitate the reaction or to avoid unwanted reaction products. Additionally, various protecting group strategies may be employed to facilitate the reaction or to avoid unwanted reaction products. The following examples are provided so that the invention might be more fully understood. These examples are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way.

Intermediate 1

(2R)-2′-Oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid

The title compound can be prepared by either Method I or Method II as described below.

Method I Step A: Dimethyl 4-aminobenzene-1,2-dicarboxylate

d Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. (g/mL) 4-nitrophthalic 211.13  5.3 kg 25.1 1 acid MsOH 96 3.62 kg 2.45 L   37.7 1.5 1.48 MeOH 26 L 10% Pd/C  159 g (wet) K₃PO₄ 212  8.0 kg 37.7 1.5 EtOAc 27 L

4-Nitrophthalic acid was dissolved in 26 L MeOH (slightly endothermic) and 3.62 kg of methanesulfonic acid (MsOH, exothermic). The solution was heated under nitrogen at 80° C. in the hydrogenation vessel for 16 h (if preferred, the reaction can also be carried out at reflux in a regular vessel). The solution was cooled to 40° C. and sampled to ensure <6% of remaining monomethyl ester.

The solution was further cooled to 20° C. and seeded (seeds can be readily prepared by taking out ca. 500 mL of the solution and stirred at 23° C. with traces of seeds that form on simple evaporation on a spatula) to form a very thick slurry.

10% Pd/C was charged with ca. 1 L MeOH and the slurry at 23° C. was carefully stirred under 60 psi of H₂ gas to maintain temp <40° C.

After complete reduction of the nitro group, the mixture became a solution containing the catalyst. An additional 16 L of MeOH was added to the mixture to ensure product stays in solution (without this, some product crystallized out after 3 days); if the vessel volume permits, this 16 L of MeOH can be added at the beginning of the reaction to dilute the exotherm of the hydrogenation.

The reaction was repeated at the same scale. The two batches were combined and the catalyst was filtered off with MeOH rinse. The filtrate was concentrated to 25 L to give a slurry. EtOAc (44 L) was added followed by a slow addition of aq K₃PO₄ (made from 16 kg solid+32 L water, solution ca. 36 L, used all but 1 L) to keep temp <25° C. The mixture became very thick after 2-4 L addition, but then lightened. The pH of the mixture should be about 9 (otherwise adjust with more K₃PO₄ or 1 N HCl). The bottom aqueous layer (ca. 50 L, 0.3% loss) was cut away. The organic layer was washed with 32 L water (aq loss ca 2%), concentrated, solvent switched to toluene to a target volume of ca. 36 L with <4 L EtOAc left. Seed if necessary to induce crystallization. Heptane (20 L) was then added. The slurry was aged at 23° C. for >2 h when LC revealed <3% loss in the mother liquor. The crystals were collected by filtration and rinsing with 1/1 toluene/heptane (18 L) and then heptane (6 L), and dried to give the title product.

Step B: Dimethyl 4-(dibenzylamino)benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate

d Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. (g/mL) dimethyl 4- 209.20 4.33 kg 20.7 1 aminobenzene- 1,2- dicarboxylate BnCl 126.58 6.55 kg 6.01 L 51.7 2.5 1.09 K₂CO₃ 138.21 7.72 kg 55.9 2.7 KI 166.00  687 g 4.14 0.2 DMAC 21.6 L

A 100-L, four-necked, round-bottomed flask was charged with the dimethyl 4-aminobenzene-1,2-dicarboxylate, K₂CO₃, KI (anhydrous), and 21.6 L of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC, 200 ppm of water; however, the reaction can tolerate more water). Benzyl chloride (BnCl) was added in one portion, and the reaction mixture (brown slurry) was heated to 60° C. over 20 min using a steam bath. The steam bath was then shutoff, and the reaction temperature continued to increase to 76.8° C. over the next 30 min (exotherm). After cooling to 75° C., the reaction mixture was stirred at this temperature for 2 h and then stirred at 90° C. until <1.5% of the monobenzyl intermediate remained (ca. 8-12 h) (yellow/white slurry). [note, the reaction mixture gets very thick during the reaction]. The steam bath was turned off and the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature (18° C.), then diluted with 21.6 L (5 volumes) of methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) and 43.2 L (10 volumes) of water. The resulting organic layer was separated, washed with water (2×28 L), and concentrated to ca. 18 L (ca. 3 volumes). The brown oil was then solvent-switched to THF (60 L) and concentrated to ca. 38 L (<1000 ppm water). The product mixture containing the title compound was used in the next step without further purification.

Step C: [4-(Dibenzylamino)benzene-1,2-diyl]dimethanol

Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. dimethyl 4- 389.44 8.06 kg 20.7 1.0 (dibenzylamino)benzene- 1,2-dicarboxylate LiAlH₄ 1.0M 27.2 L 27.2 1.3 THF  38 L

A 100-L, four-necked, round-bottomed flask was charged with dimethyl 4-(dibenzylamino)benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate in 38 L of THF from the previous step. While cooling with a dry ice-acetone bath (ca. −50° C.), a solution of lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄) in THF (1.0 M, 26 L) was added dropwise via an addition funnel keeping the internal temperature <5° C. (ca. 1.5 h addition). The resulting reaction mixture was aged at −12 to 1° C. for 3 h. Additional LiAlH₄ (1.2 L) was added via addition funnel and the reaction mixture was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature over 16 h. A solution of aqueous THF (1.03 L of water diluted with 4 L of THF) was then added slowly keeping the internal temperature <15° C. Next, 1.03 L of a 15% NaOH solution were added in one portion followed by the addition of 3.1 L of water in 5 portions. [note, the reaction mixture gets extremely thick during the second water addition step] The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature, and then filtered through SolkaFloc® with the aid of 40 L of THF [note, the filtration is slow, ca. 5 h] and concentrated to ca. 21 L (ca. 3 volumes). Toluene (56 L, 8 volumes) was added and the solution was concentrated to ca. 35 L (ca. 5 volumes). Seed crystals were then added to initiate crystallization and the reaction mixture was further concentrated to ca. 28 L (4 volumes). Heptane (70 L) was then added over 90 min and the crystallization was aged at room temperature until <3% of the diol remained in the mother liquor (ca. 3 h). The crystals were collected by filtration, washed with 20 L of a 1:2 toluene:heptane solution and 30 L of heptane, and dried under vacuum with a nitrogen sweep to give the title compound.

Step D: [2-(Chloromethyl)-4-(dibenzylamino)phenyl]methanol

d Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. (g/mL) [4- 333.42 6.00 kg 18.0 1.0 (dibenzylamino)- benzene-1,2- diyl]dimethanol SOCl₂ 118.97 6.42 kg 3.94 L 54.0 3.0 1.63 CH₃CN 18.0 L

A 100-L, four-necked, round-bottomed flask was charged with SOCl₂ and 18 L of CH₃CN. While cooling with an ice-water bath (ca. 5° C.), [4-(dibenzylamino)benzene-1,2-diyl]dimethanol was added in portions over 1.5 h keeping the internal temperature <18° C. [note, excessive HCl/SO₂ gas, recommend using a HCl scrubber].

After the addition, the reaction mixture was warmed to 23° C. and diluted with 36 L (ca. 6 vol.) of methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). The reaction mixture was seeded to initiate crystallization and then diluted with an additional 18 L of MTBE and aged at 23° C. for ca. 2 h (usually <5% chloride in the mother liquor). The crystals were collected by filtration, washed with 50 L of MTBE (to ensure the complete removal of HCl), and dried under vacuum with a nitrogen sweep to give the title compound as a hydrochloride salt.

Step A1: N-tert-Butyl-3-methylpyridin-2-amine

Equiv- Material FW alents mol Amount 2-Bromo 3-methylpyridine, 98% 172.02 1 28.3 4.97 kg t-Butylamine, 99% 73.14 1.5 42.7 4.51 L Sodium t-butoxide 96.10 2.0 56.5 5.60 kg BINAP 622.67 0.006 0.171 106 g Pd₂(dba)₃ 915.72 0.0025 0.071 65 g Toluene 50 L Water 40 L HCl, 2.0N ~24 L NaOH, 10N 4.6 L MTBE 50 L

To a 3 or 4-necked flask (100 L) with water cooling condenser, mechanical stirring and N₂ was charged toluene (40 L), 2-bromo-3-methylpyridine (4.966 kg), sodium t-butoxide (5.60 kg). The slurry was then sparged N₂ for 10 min; then tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (0) (Pd₂(dba)₃, 0.065 kg, 0.071 mol), 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 0.106 kg, 0.171 mol) and t-butylamine (4.51 L) were charged. The resulting dark mixture was stirred 10 min at 23° C. under N₂ and then heated to 70° C. (internal temp) with a steam bath. No t-butyl amine reflux was noticed.

At 70° C., the heating was stopped, however the reaction temp rose to 83° C. in a few minutes due to exotherm and an ice-water bath was immediately applied to cool the reaction (very minor refluxing of solvent observed). The reaction temp rose to 90° C. and stayed at that temp for 10 min before dropping.

When the temperature decreased to 86° C., the ice-water bath was removed; the reaction was assayed and found to be complete (30 minutes after heating was stopped). The reaction mixture was then cooled with an ice bath and became extremely thick and difficult to stir upon reaching 46° C.; ˜35 L water was added to quench the reaction (ice-bath was sufficient to maintain temp during quench). (The mixture was stable overnight at 23° C.).

The mixture was transferred to a 100 L extractor for separation. The aqueous layer (35 L) was cut, and the organic layer (50 L) was treated with HCl (2.0 N, ˜24 L) to pH 0.45.

Layers were separated (50 L organic waste); the aqueous layer was collected and transferred back to the extractor. 50 L of methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) was charged and the pH was adjusted to 9.3 (suggest range: 8.5 to 10) with NaOH (10 N, ˜4.6 L. The aqueous layer was cut (2% loss by LC); the organic layer was washed with water (10 L), and transferred to 100 L flask with in-line filtration. The batch was concentrated and then flushed with THF to remove MTBE and water (water <150 ppm) to give the title compound in THF.

Step A2: Methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate

Material FW Equiv mol Amount Part 1: N-tert-butyl-3- 164.25 1 26.36 4.33 kg methylpyridin-2-amine n-Hexyl Lithium @ 2.09M/hexane 1.0 26.36 12.60 L Methyl chloroformate, 94.50/d1.228 1.04 26.36 2.13 L 98% THF 28 + 6 L Part 2: n-Hexyllithium @ 2.09M 0.7 18.45 9.10 L Diisopropylamine, 99% 101.2/d0.716 1.4 36.90 5.27 L n-Hexyllithium @ 2.09M 1.6 39.54 20.9 L Part 3: Methyl Chloroformate,  94.5/d1.228 1.3 34.27 2.66 L 98% Work-up: HCl, 5.0N 14.5 L KOH, 4.0N 4 L K₂CO₃, 22% 12.6 L (made from K₂CO₃ 99%)

Part 1:

To a 4-necked RB flask (100 L) was charged a solution of N-tert-butyl-3-methylpyridin-2-amine (˜28 L, 17.5% wt, 24.7 Kg, 23.36 mol) under N₂ and extra THF (6 L). This solution was cooled to <−10° C. with dry-ice acetone bath (external temp @-35° C.). To this solution was added n-hexyllithium (12.6 L, 2.09 M in hexane, 1.0 eq.) via addition funnel while controlling temp <−5° C. over 45 min (exothermic).

After addition, the reaction was aged for 20 min at the temp of −6 to −8° C. Methyl chloroformate (2.05 L, 1.00 equiv.) was slowly added via addition funnel over 43 min (exothermic, internal temp was controlled <14.2° C.); 10 min after addition (when temp became steady), the reaction was aged for about 1.5 h at 15 to 20° C. (@ 92% conversion based on the ratio of LCAP). Another 0.04 eq. (82 mL) of methyl chloroformate was added to increase the conversion to 94% (before addition, temp was about 15° C.).

Part 2:

The above reaction mixture was cooled to −18 to −25° C.; 0.7 eq of n-hexyllithium (9.10 L, 2.09 N) was added (very exothermic—controlled internal temp at −15° C. to −20° C.) and the reaction was aged at −15° C. to −20° C. for 30 min. Diisopropylamine (5.27 L, 1.4 eq) followed by n-hexyllithium (20.9 L, 2.09 N, 1.6 equiv.) was added via an additional funnel (controlling temp −15° C. to −20° C. during addition). The reaction was then aged for 20 min at <−15° C. (temp became steady), then changed to ice-water bath and temp was gradually warmed to 15° C. during overnight aging.

Part 3:

After the above reaction was complete, it was cooled to 0° C. with dry ice-acetone bath and methyl chloroformate (2.66 L, 1.3 equiv.) was added via an addition funnel over 25 min (controlling temp below 13° C. during addition. The reaction went from a dark solution to an orange slurry). The reaction was aged for 40 min around 8 to 10° C. and LC showed complete conversion.

Work-Up:

THF (6.4 L) was charged. The reaction was quenched with 5 N HCl (14.5 L) at <20° C. over 2 h to pH 4.28 (mixed solution), pH 3.88 (aqueous layer). Some precipitate was formed. 5 L of water was added and the precipitate was dissolved. This mixture was transferred into an extractor. The aqueous layer (30 L) was cut; the organic was washed with water (8 L). (The organic solution could be stored at 23° C. under N₂ for 2 days, but extended storage could result in decarboxylation.)

The organic layer was then transferred to a 100 L RB flask and concentrated to give 20 L of a slurry.

To the concentrated batch was charged THF (30 L) and heptane (6 L), and this solution was transferred to a 100 L extractor containing 12.6 L 22 wt/wt % aqueous K₂CO₃ solution, cooled to 10° C., The pH was adjusted to 13.1 (suggest PH range: 12.5 to 13.5) with KOH (4 L, 4.0 N). After warming up to 16 to 20° C., the aqueous layer was cut (no loss); the organic layer was washed with 15% K₂CO₃ (9 L) (15% K₂CO₃ was used to wash out residual KOH which could decompose the potassium salt) and transferred to 100 RB flask (this solution was stable at 23° C./N₂ for overnight). The batch was concentrated and flushed with 80 L THF to remove water.

To the concentrated batch (˜total 10 L with 2.5 L THF content) was charged THF (2 L).

The product had begun to crystallize out and 60 L of n-heptane (6.7% loss in supernatant with only 30 L heptane) was charged via additional funnel over about 60 min. The resulting pale yellow slurry was aged for ca. 2 h (overnight aging is fine too). The product was collected by filtration, rinsed with 13 L of a solution of THF/heptane (1:13) and then 10 L heptane. The pale yellow product was dried under vacuum/N₂ to give the title compound as a potassium salt.

Salt Break and Neutral Form Isolation:

To a 100 L R.B. flask was charge the potassium salt (4.565 kg, 15.94 mol) and 16 L methanol, and the resulting mixture was chilled in ice bath to 6° C. Acetic acid (1.369 L, 23.91 mol) was added over 5 min. Near the end of addition, the mixture became very thick. 48 L water was added, and the resultant mixture was aged 1.5 hours at 15-20° C. (pH reading 6.1). The solid was filtered and the cake washed with 15 L water and dried under a nitrogen stream to give the title compound.

Step B1: (9R)-1-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]cinchonan-1-ium-9-ol bromide

d Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. (g/mL) Cinchonidine 294.39 6.1 kg 20.72 1 3,5-Bis(trifluoro- 307.03 7.0 kg 4.19 L 22.8 1.1 1.671 methyl)benzyl bromide IPA   66 L

3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl bromide (7.0 kg) was dissolved in isopropyl alcohol (IPA, 60 L) at 23° C. under nitrogen. To the stirred light yellow solution was added cinchonidine (6.1 kg) in portions over 20 minutes (no exotherm), affording a white slurry. Additional IPA (6 L) was added to rinse all the cinchonidine down into the reaction mixture. The slurry was heated to gentle reflux, reaching an internal temperature of 80-82.5° C. The mixture became less viscous while being heated, and once the temperature had reached 60.6° C. the last of the cinchonidine had dissolved to give a dark yellow solution. Once the mixture had reached gentle reflux, the reaction was seeded by the addition of (9R)-1-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]cinchonan-1-ium-9-ol bromide (62.3 g, 0.104 mol, 0.5 mol % relative to cinchonidine starting material), which led to the immediate precipitation of the product. The mixture was maintained at gentle reflux for 3.5 h, then heating was ceased and the orange slurry was allowed to cool to room temperature (21° C.) with stirring overnight.

After cooling, the mixture was filtered, and the pink product cake was washed with fresh IPA (1×10 L then 1×30 L) to remove unreacted starting materials and most of the color, and dried under vacuum with a nitrogen sweep to afford the title product.

Step E: (2R)-1′-tert-Butyl-5-(dibenzylamino)-1,3-dihydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin]-2′(1′H)-one

d Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. (g/mL) methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy- 248.28 1.429 kg 12.49 L 5.755 1.01 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3- carboxylate (0.11438 wt % solution in PhMe) [2-(chloromethyl)-4- 388.83 2.367 kg 5.698 1.0 (dibenzylamino)phenyl]methanol hydrochloride (93.5 wt %) (9R)-1-[3,5- 601.42 0.171 kg 0.285 0.05 bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]cinchonan- 1-ium-9-ol bromide toluene 31.14 L KOH_((S)) 56.1 15.966 kg  H₂O 9.725 kg

To water (9.725 kg) was added KOH (15.966 kg of 88.5 wt % pellets) in portions with ice-bath cooling under nitrogen, at such a rate as to maintain the internal temperature at ca. 30° C. After addition of ca. 80% of the KOH pellets, the water was drained from the ice-bath and the remaining KOH added rapidly, to achieve a maximum internal temperature of 37° C. and complete dissolution of the KOH.

The mixture was then allowed to cool to 32° C., then placed in an ice bath. Once the temperature reached 28° C., KOH began to crystallize (slightly exothermic). 15 minutes after the onset of crystallization, toluene (28 L) was added, and the stirring rate increased to maximum.

Once the temperature had reached 12.5° C., [2-(chloromethyl)-4-(dibenzylamino)phenyl]methanol hydrochloride (2.367 kg, 93.5 wt %, remainder MTBE and MeCN) was added in two equal portions over 5 minutes (minor exotherm), rinsing with toluene (1 L). After a further 15 minutes, 0.50 eq. methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate (6.246 kg of a 0.11438 wt % solution in toluene, 0.715 kg oxindole) was added in two portions over 2 minutes (exotherm from 11.9 to 14.0° C.). After a further 15 minutes 0.45 eq. of methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate (5.622 kg of a 0.11438 wt % solution in toluene, 0.643 kg oxindole) was added in two portions over 2 minutes (exotherm from 13.3 to 14.6° C.).

Fifteen minutes after addition of the second batch of methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate, an aliquot was removed and analyzed by HPLC.

After a further 15 minutes, a further charge of 0.06 eq. of methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate (0.750 kg of a 0.11438 wt % solution in toluene, 0.086 kg oxindole) was made, rinsing with toluene (1.1 L). The mixture was analyzed by HPLC again 30 minutes after addition of the third batch of methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate.

(9R)-1-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]cinchonan-1-ium-9-ol bromide (0.171 kg) was added in one portion, rinsing with toluene (1.1 L). The mixture was stirred at ca. 10° C. for a further 16 h.

HPLC analysis at this point indicated formation of the title compound. Cooling of the vessel was ceased, THF (11.25 L) and H₂O (11.25 L) were added sequentially (exotherm to 14° C.), and stirring continued until the mixture had returned to 23° C. The mixture was then transferred into an extractor, and the layers were allowed to settle, leaving an orange organic phase, a colorless translucent aqueous phase, and a small amount of insoluble interfacial material. The aqueous layer was separated, H₂O (30 L) was added to the organic layer, and the mixture was stirred briefly and allowed to settle again, leaving virtually no interfacial material. The aqueous layer was separated, and the organic layer collected and stored.

The reaction was repeated three times on different scales to give a total theoretical yield of the title compound of 7.521 kg. The combined organic phases were concentrated at 30-35° C. to a target volume of 27 L, by which point the product had begun to precipitate. The slurry was then allowed to cool while MeOH (70 L) was added, and the mixture stirred at 23° C. for 16 h.

The product was then collected by filtration, washing the cake with 1:4 toluene:MeOH (1×20 L) and then MeOH (2×15 L), then dried under vacuum with a nitrogen sweep to afford the title compound.

Step F: (2R)-5-Amino-1,3-dihydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin]-2′(1′H)-one

d Materials FW Mass Volume mol Equiv. (g/mL) (2R)-1′-tert-butyl- 487.63 5.48 kg 11.2 1.0 5-(dibenzyl- amino)-1,3- dihydrospiro- [indene-2,3′- pyrrolo[2,3- b]pyridin]- 2′(1′H)-one MsOH 96.11 12.6 kg 8.5 L 131 11.65 1.48 toluene   1 L MeOH  22 L 10% Pd/C (wet)  224 g

To a 50 L RBF was charged 8.5 L of methanesulfonic acid (MsOH). (2R)-1′-tert-butyl-5-(dibenzylamino)-1,3-dihydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin]-2′(1′H)-one (6.6 kg crude, 83 wt %, remainder is toluene) was added as a solid over 40 min while temperature increased to 50° C. due to the exotherm. Toluene (1 L) was added to rinse down the solid (small amount of toluene also gives gentle reflux to rinse down any SM stuck on the vessel's walls). The reaction was heated to 90° C. over 30 min and the solution was held at 90° C. with no obvious exotherm observed (very mild refluxing, used a condenser).

The solution was cooled to 38° C. and diluted with MeOH (22 L, exothermic for the first 4 L MeOH addition). The solution was further cooled to 23° C. and subdivided to two equal halves for hydrogenation.

The first half of the above solution was charged to a hydrogenation vessel with 2 L MeOH rinse followed by 112 g of 10% Pd/C (wet) and a 2 L MeOH rinse. 60 psi of H₂ gas was applied with slow agitation in the first 30 min when the temperature rose from 20° C. to 27° C. The agitation was increased and the reaction was continued at 23° C. until LC revealed the reaction to be complete. The second half of the solution was hydrogenated under the same conditions. The two batches were combined and filtered through Solka-Floc® with MeOH rinse.

The filtrate was concentrated to 22 L, transferred to a 100 L extractor with 1 L MeOH and 1 L water rinse. Water (34 L) was added. The mixture was cooled to 20° C. and pH was adjusted to 1.5-2 with 9.6 L 10 N NaOH. Toluene (24 L) was added and the mixture was stirred for 10 min and settled for 30 min. The top toluene layer was analyzed to confirm no product loss and then discarded. The aqueous layer was collected and transferred back to the 100 L RBF and acidified to pH adjusted 4 over 30 min with 2.8 L of 5 N NaOH (crystals started to come out at pH 2.2 after ˜300 mL of the NaOH solution addition). A water bath was used to cool the very slight exothermic process. Another 480 mL of 5 N NaOH raised the pH to 6.3 (target pH 6-8, can be fined tuned with 5 N HCl if necessary). After aging for 30 min, the slurry was filtered with 6 L of 1/7 MeOH/water and then 12 L water. LC showed mother liquor loss of ˜1% (0.3 g/L). Drying with nitrogen sweep and vacuum on a filter funnel provided the title compound. MS: m/z=252.0 (M+1).

Step G: (2R)-5-Iodo-1,3-dihydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin]-2′(1′H)-one

A solution of sodium nitrite (107 g, 1.55 mol) in water (500 mL) was added dropwise over 15 min to a solution of (2R)-5-amino-1,3-dihydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin]-2′(1′H)-one (195 g, 0.776 mol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (443 g, 2.33 mol) in acetonitrile (1.94 L) at 23° C. After stirring for 30 min, a solution of potassium iodide (322 g, 1.94 mol) in water (500 mL) was then added over 15 minutes. The resulting mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 40 minutes, then diluted with water (2 L) and basified by the addition of solid NaOH (98.0 g, 2.44 mol) with stirring. Iodine by-product was reduced by the addition of 10% aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution and stirring for an additional 30 minutes. The solids were collected by filtration, washed with water, and dried under nitrogen atmosphere to give the title compound, which was used without further purification. MS: m/z=363.1 (M+1).

Step H: Methyl (2R)-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylate

A solution of (2R)-5-iodo-1,3-dihydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin]-2′(1′H)-one (100.0 g, 276 mmol), sodium acetate (45.3 g, 552 mmol) and dichloro 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene palladium(II) dichloromethane adduct (11.3 g, 13.8 mmol) in a mixture of MeOH (1 L) and toluene (30 mL) was pressurized to 120 psi of CO at 23° C. and then heated at 80° C. for 12 h with stirring. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (1 L), and the precipitate collected by filtration, washed with water, and dried under nitrogen atmosphere to give the title compound, which was used without further purification. MS: m/z=295.3 (M+1).

Step I: (2R)-2′-Oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid

A mixture of methyl (2R)-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylate (81.0 g, 276 mmol) and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (5.52 N, 250 mL, 1.38 mol) in MeOH (2.5 L) was heated at reflux for 4 h. The mixture was allowed to cool to 23° C. before it was acidified to pH 2 with aqueous 1 N hydrochloric acid solution. The precipitate was filtered, washed with water, and dried under nitrogen atmosphere to give the title compound. MS: m/z=281.2 (M+1).

Method II Step A: (R)-Methyl 1′-tert-butyl-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylate

A mixture of methyl 1,2-bis(bromomethyl)-4-benzoate (103 g, 320 mmol), methyl 1-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate (prepared in Method I, Step A2, 79 g, 320 mmol), and potassium carbonate (265 g, 1919 mmol) was stirred at 23° C. for 7 h. The mixture was then concentrated to ˜100 mL before partitioning between water (1.5 L) and CH₂Cl₂ (1 L). The aqueous was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×500 mL), and the combined organics were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The crude product was purified on silica eluting with 100% CH₂Cl₂ to provide the title compound as a racemic mixture. The enantiomers were then separated by supercritical fluid chromatography using a ChiralPak® IC column eluting with 70% CO₂/30% isopropyl alcohol. Concentration of the second eluting peak provided the title compound. MS: m/z=351.0 (M+1).

Step B: (R)-2′-Oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid

A solution of (R)-methyl 1′-tert-butyl-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylate (53 g, 151 mmol) in methanesulfonic acid (196 mL) was heated at 90° C. for 1 h. Water (100 mL) was added and the solution was stirred for an additional 3 h at 90° C. The acidic mixture was cooled to 0° C., diluted with water (1 L), and basified to pH 14 with 50% aqueous NaOH solution. The basic mixture was then acidified to pH 3 by careful addition of concentrated aqueous HCl solution. The solids were collected by filtration and dried under nitrogen atmosphere to give the title compound which was used without further purification. MS: m/z=281.1 (M+1).

Intermediate 2

(2R)-6′-Oxo-1,3,6′,7′-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine]-5-carboxylic acid Step A: Methyl (2R)-4′-chloro-6′-oxo-1,3,6′,7′-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine]-5-carboxylate

To a solution of methyl 3,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzoate (5.0 g, 15.5 mmol) and 4-chloro-5,7-dihydro-6H-pyrrolo[2,3d]pyrimidin-6-one (5.3 g, 31.1 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (150 mL) was added cesium carbonate (10.1 g, 31.1 mmol). After 10 min, water was added and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts were washed with water, brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. Purification by silica gel chromatography (1% methanol/dichloromethane→5% methanol/dichloromethane) then a second silica gel purification (100% dichloromethane→75% dichloromethane/EtOAc gave the title compound as a racemic mixture. Chiral separation of the individual enantiomers was accomplished by use of HPLC using a 10 cm ChiralPak® AD column (60% EtOH/hexanes with 0.1% diethylamine to give the title compound as the 1^(st) eluting enantiomer. MS: m/z=330.1 (M+1).

Step B: Methyl (2R)-6′-oxo-1,3,6′,7′-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine]-5-carboxylate

To a solution of methyl (2R)-4′-chloro-6′-oxo-1,3,6′,7′-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine]-5-carboxylate (860 mg, 2.61 mmol) and triethylamine (364 μL, 2.61 mmol) in 10 mL of EtOAc was added 2.6 g of 10% palladium on carbon. The reaction was placed under 50 psi of H₂ and shaken on a Parr hydrogenation apparatus. After 16 h, the reaction was backfilled with nitrogen, filtered through Celite® and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound as a mixture with 1 equivalent of triethylamine hydrochloride. MS: m/z=296.1 (M+1).

Step C: (2R)-6′-Oxo-1,3,6′,7′-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine]-5-carboxylic acid

To a solution of a mixture of methyl (2R)-6′-oxo-1,3,6′,7′-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine]-5-carboxylate (10 mg, 0.034 mmol) and triethylamine hydrochloride (0.034 mmol from previous step) in 1 mL of 1:1 THF/MeOH was added 1N LiOH (102 μL, 102 mmol). After 16 h, the reaction was neutralized to pH=7 with 3 N HCl and then concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was azeotroped from benzene to afford the title compound as a mixture with 3 equivalents of lithium chloride and 1 equivalent of triethylamine hydrochloride. MS: m/z=282.1 (M+1). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO d₆): δ 11.57 (s, 1H); 8.69 (s, 1H); 8.11 (s, 1H); 7.84 (m, 2H); 7.40 (dd, J=8.3 Hz, 1H); 3.34-3.28 (m, 4H).

Intermediate 3

(2R)-5′-Cyano-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid Step A: (2R)-5′-Bromo-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid

To a stirred solution of (2R)-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid (described in Intermediate 1) (1.52 g, 5.42 mmol) in acetic acid (AcOH, 30 mL) and H₂O (4 mL) at 50° C. was added a solution of bromine (1.19 g, 7.47 mmol) in AcOH (1 mL) dropwise. The resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 2 h, then additional bromine (1.19 g, 7.47 mmol) in AcOH (1 mL) was added dropwise. The resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 16 h, then allowed to cool to ambient temperature. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washing with H₂O, and dried to give the crude product, which was purified by reversed-phase HPLC on a C-18 column, eluting with a gradient of H₂O:CH₃CN:TFA—95:5:0.1 to 65:35:0.1, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=360.9 (M+1).

Step B: (2R)-5′-Cyano-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid

Argon was bubbled through a stirred mixture of (2R)-5′-bromo-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid (433 mg, 1.21 mmol), zinc cyanide (205 mg, 1.75 mmol), and zinc (31 mg, 0.47 mmol) in N,N-dimethylacetamide (10 mL) for 10 min. To the resulting mixture was added tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) (27 mg, 0.030 mmol) and 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (23 mg, 0.041 mmol) and argon was bubbled through the mixture for an additional 5 min. The reaction mixture was heated at 120° C. for 4 h, cooled to ambient temperature, and partitioned between EtOAc (100 mL) and 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid (100 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine, then dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in a minimal volume of DMF and H₂O was added to produce a precipitate. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washing with H₂O, and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=306.0 (M+1); ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 12.81 (br s, 1H), 11.68 (s, 1H), 8.59 (d, 1H, J=1.9 Hz), 7.86-7.83 (m, 2H), 7.80 (dd, 1H, J=2.0, 0.5 Hz), 7.39 (d, 1H, J=8.3 Hz), 3.42-3.29 (m, 4H).

Intermediate 4

(3S,5S,6R)-3-Amino-6-methyl-5-phenyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one Step A: Methyl 2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-5-oxohexanoate

A mixture of cesium carbonate (9.80 g, 30.1 mmol) and methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-iodo-D-alaninate (9.90 g, 30.1 mmol) in DMF (75 mL) was stirred at 23° C. for 45 min before 1-(3-chlorophenyl)propan-2-one (6.09 g, 36.1 mmol) and additional cesium carbonate (9.80 g, 30.1 mmol) were added. The resulting mixture was stirred for 2.5 h. The majority of the DMF was then removed under reduced pressure at a bath temperature of <40° C. The concentrated mixture was partitioned between water (500 mL) and ethyl acetate (2×200 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give the title compound as a 1:1 racemic mixture of diastereomers, which was used without further purification. MS: m/z=314.1 (M−t-Bu+1).

Step B: tert-Butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate

A slurry of methyl 2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-5-oxohexanoate as a 1:1 racemic mixture of diastereomers (11.1 g, 30.0 mmol), 2,2,2-trifluoroethylamine (9.59 mL, 120 mmol), acetic acid (10.3 mL, 180 mmol), sodium triacetoxyborohydride (25.4 g, 120 mmol), and flame-dried 4 Å molecular sieves (50 g) in 1,2-dichloroethane (300 mL) was stirred at 23° C. for 8 h. Additional 2,2,2-trifluoroethylamine (9.59 mL, 120 mmol), acetic acid (10.3 mL, 180 mmol), and sodium triacetoxyborohydride (25.4 g, 120 mmol) were added and stirring was continued for 20 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (200 mL) then poured into water (500 mL). Molecular sieves were removed by filtration, and the organic layer was washed with water (3×500 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated. A solution of the residue in ethanol (200 mL) was stirred in the presence of solid potassium carbonate (12.4 g, 90 mmol) at 60° C. for 2 h, then 23° C. for 16 h. The bulk of the ethanol was removed under reduced pressure and the remaining slurry was then partitioned between water (500 mL) and ethyl acetate (300 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was crystallized from 2:1 mixture of hexane and ethyl ether to give the title compound as a racemate. The enantiomers were separated using normal-phase HPLC using a ChiralPak® AD column and eluting with 40% hexane in ethanol initially, stepping to 20% hexane in ethanol (0.1% diethylamine used as a modifier) to afford the title compound as the second enantiomer to elute. MS: m/z=421.2 (M+1).

Step C: (3S,5S,6R)-3-Amino-6-methyl-5-phenyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one

A mixture of tert-butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (2.75 g, 6.53 mmol) and 20 wt. % palladium hydroxide on carbon (˜50 wt. % wet, 700 mg, 0.50 mmol) in methanol (100 mL) was stirred under a hydrogen balloon at 23° C. for 16 h. The catalyst was removed by filtration through a pad of Celite® and washed thoroughly with methanol and ethyl acetate. Following concentration of the filtrate, a solution of the residue in ethyl acetate (100 mL) pre-cooled to 0° C. was sparged with HCl gas for ˜1 min. The ice-bath was removed and the acidic solution was allowed to warm to 23° C. as stirring was continued for 2 h. The mixture was then concentrated to dryness to afford the title compound as a hydrochloride salt. HRMS: m/z=287.1361, calculated m/z=287.1366 for C₁₄H₁₈F₃N₂O. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.39 (t, 2H, J=7.3 Hz), 7.31 (t, 1H, J=7.3 Hz), 7.27 (d, 2H, J=7.3 Hz), 4.81-4.73 (m, 1H), 4.24 (dd, 1H, J=12.0, 6.8 Hz), 3.94 (p, 1H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.76-3.67 (m, 2H), 2.56 (q, 1H, J=12.7 Hz), 2.42 (m, 1H), 1.00 (d, 3H, J=6.3 Hz).

Intermediate 5

(3S,5S)-3-Amino-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one Step A: Methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-5-nitrilonorvalinate

To a solution of methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-iodo-D-alaninate (5.00 g, 15.2 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) was added cesium carbonate (5.44 g, 16.7 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 2 hours. (2-Fluorophenyl)acetonitrile (5.87 mL, 45.6 mmol) and cesium carbonate (7.42 g, 22.8 mmol) were added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 hour. The mixture was filtered and water was added to the filtrate. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (3×), brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. Purification by silica gel chromatography (0% ethyl acetate→50% ethyl acetate/hexane) gave the title compound as a racemic mixture of cis and trans diastereomers. MS: m/z=378.1 (M+CH₃CN+1).

Step B: tert-Butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-oxopiperidin-3-yl]carbamate

To a solution of methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-5-nitrilonorvalinate (3.88 g, 11.5 mmol) in ethanol (50 mL) was added Raney nickel (slurry in water, ca. 10 g). The mixture was placed under a balloon of hydrogen and the reaction was stirred at 23° C. for 4 hours. The mixture was filtered and concentrated to afford a mixture of 4 diastereomers. A solution of this residue in ethanol (100 mL) was stirred in the presence of solid potassium carbonate (1.30 g, 9.44 mmol) at 60° C. for 2 h. The bulk of the ethanol was removed under reduced pressure and the remaining slurry was diluted with water to afford a white precipitate. The precipitate was filtered, washed with water and then dried under vacuum at 40° C. for 18 hours. The enantiomers were separated using normal-phase HPLC using a ChiralPak® AD column, eluting with 40% hexane in ethanol (0.1% diethylamine used as a modifier) to afford the title compound as the second major enantiomer to elute. MS: m/z=331.1 (M+Na).

Step C: tert-Butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate

To a pre-cooled 0° C. solution of tert-butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-oxopiperidin-3-yl]carbamate (0.59 g, 1.93 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran:N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (2:1, 18 mL) was added lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (2.29 mL, 2.29 mmol, 1 M in THF) and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (0.33 mL, 2.29 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 4 h. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The combined organic extracts were washed with water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. Purification by silica gel chromatography (0% ethyl acetate→100% ethyl acetate/hexane) was followed by separation of the cis/trans diastereoisomers using normal-phase HPLC using a ChiralPak® AD column, eluting with 60% ethanol in hexanes to afford the title compound as the second diastereomer to elute. MS: m/z=391.2 (M+1).

Step D: (3S,5S)-3-Amino-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one

A solution of tert-butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (126 mg, 0.32 mmol) in ethyl acetate (10 mL), pre-cooled to 0° C. was sparged with HCl gas for ˜1 min. The ice-bath was removed and the acidic solution was allowed to warm to 23° C. as stirring was continued for 2 h. The mixture was then concentrated to dryness to afford the title compound as a hydrochloride salt. MS: m/z=291.1 (M+1).

Intermediate 6

(3S,5S)-3-Amino-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride Step A: Ethyl 4-cyano-4-(2,3-difluorophenyl)butanoate

To a mixture of (2,3-difluorophenyl)acetonitrile (40.5 g, 265 mmol), ethyl acrylate (24 mL, 221 mmol), and hydroquinone (50 mg, 0.45 mmol) was added KOH (2 M in MeOH, 2.0 mL, 4.0 mmol) and the resulting mixture was heated at 160° C. for 16 h and then allowed to cool to ambient temperature. The crude mixture was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 50:50, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=207.9 (M−OEt).

Step B: 5-(2,3-Difluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one

A mixture of ethyl 4-cyano-4-(2,3-difluorophenyl)butanoate (18.5 g, 73.1 mmol), Raney nickel (slurry in water, ca. 30 g), and ammonia (2.0 M in EtOH, 550 mL) was stirred vigorously under an atmosphere of hydrogen (ca. 1 atm) for 18 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite®, washing with EtOH, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a crude solid. Recrystallization from EtOAc afforded the title compound. MS: m/z=211.9 (M+1).

Step C: 5-(2,3-Difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one

To a stirred solution of 5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one (8.88 g, 42 mmol) in THF (250 mL) and NMP (170 mL) at 0° C. was added lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.0 M in THF, 48 mL, 48 mmol) over 5 min, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below 5° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 min, then 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl triflate (11.2 g, 48 mmol) was added dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below 5° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm slowly to ambient temperature and stirring was continued for 3 h. The resulting mixture was partitioned between saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (800 mL) and EtOAc (1 L). The organic layer was removed and the aqueous phase was extracted further with EtOAc (500 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water, then brine, then dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 0:100, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=293.9 (M+1).

Step D: (3R,5R & 3S,5S)-3-Azido-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one

To a stirred solution of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.0 M in THF, 26.3 mL, 26.3 mmol) in THF (120 mL) at −78° C. was added a cold (−78° C.) solution of 5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one (6.42 g, 21.9 mmol) in THF (100 mL) dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below −65° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 30 min, then a cold (−78° C.) solution of 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl azide (Harmon et al. J. Org. Chem. 1973, 38, 11-16) (8.81 g, 28.5 mmol) in THF (80 mL) was added dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below −65° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 45 min, then AcOH (6.0 mL, 105 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm slowly to ambient temperature and was partitioned between saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (1 L) and CH₂Cl₂ (1.5 L). The organic layer was washed with brine, then dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 40:60, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=334.9 (M+1).

Step E: tert-Butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate

To a mixture of (3R,5R & 3S,5S)-3-azido-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one (6.14 g, 18.4 mmol) and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (4.81 g, 22.0 mmol) in EtOH (160 mL) was added 10% palladium on carbon (0.98 g, 0.92 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred vigorously under an atmosphere of hydrogen (ca. 1 atm) for 18 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite®, washing with EtOH, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a crude solid. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of CH₂Cl₂:EtOAc—100:0 to 60:40, to give the racemic product. Separation of the enantiomers was achieved by HPLC on a ChiralPak® AD column, eluting with EtOH:hexanes:Et₂NH—60:40:0.04, to give tert-butyl [(3R,5R)-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate as the first major peak, and tert-butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate, the title compound, as the second major peak. MS: m/z=431.0 (M+Na).

Step F: (3S,5S)-3-Amino-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride

A solution of tert-butyl [(3S,5S)-5-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (1.50 g, 3.67 mmol) in EtOAc (30 mL) at 0° C. was saturated with HCl (g) and aged for 30 min. The resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound. MS: m/z=309.0 (M+1); ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.29-7.17 (m, 3H), 4.36-4.25 (m, 2H), 4.12 (dq, 1H, J=15.1, 9.3 Hz), 3.84 (m, 1H), 3.75 (ddd, 1H, J=12.0, 5.4, 1.7 Hz), 3.64 (t, 1H, J=11.6 Hz), 2.46 (m, 1H), 2.37 (q, 1H, J=12.2 Hz).

Intermediate 7

(3S,5S,6R)-3-Amino-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride Step A: 5-Bromo-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one

To a stirred mixture of 3-bromo-6-hydroxy-2-methylpyridine (25.0 g, 133 mmol) and cesium carbonate (52.0 g, 160 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (600 mL) was added 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl triflate (40.1 g, 173 mmol) and the resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 4 h and then allowed to cool to ambient temperature. The resulting mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of CH₂Cl₂:EtOAc—100:0 to 60:40, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=269.9 (M+1).

Step B: 6-Methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one

Argon was bubbled through a stirred solution of 5-bromo-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (9.43 g, 34.9 mmol) in THF (280 mL) for 15 min. To this solution were added 2,3,5-trifluorophenylboronic acid (12.3 g, 69.8 mmol), then cesium fluoride (10.6 g, 69.8 mmol), and finally bis(tri-tert-butylphosphine)palladium(0) (892 mg, 1.75 mmol), and argon was bubbled through the mixture for 5 min after each addition. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 90 min and was then partitioned between saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (500 mL) and EtOAc (600 mL). The organic layer was removed and the aqueous phase was extracted further with EtOAc (300 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, then dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 0:100, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=322.0 (M+1).

Step C: (5S,6R & 5R,6S)-6-Methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one

A mixture of 6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (3.73 g, 11.6 mmol) and platinum(IV) oxide (659 mg, 2.90 mmol) in MeOH (200 mL) was shaken on a Parr hydrogenation apparatus under an atmosphere of hydrogen (ca. 45 psi) for 2 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite®, washing with MeOH, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a crude solid. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:Et₂O—100:0 to 0:100, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=326.0 (M+1).

Step D: (5S,6R & 5R,6S)-3-Azido-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one

To a stirred solution of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.0 M in THF, 36 mL, 36 mmol) in THF (180 mL) at −78° C. was added a cold (−78° C.) solution of (5S,6R & 5R,6S)-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one (9.68 g, 29.8 mmol) in THF (100+20 mL) dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below −65° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 30 min, then a cold (−78° C.) solution of 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl azide (Harmon et al. (1973) J. Org. Chem. 38, 11-16) (11.97 g, 38.7 mmol) in THF (100 mL) was added dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below −65° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 45 min, then AcOH (7.8 mL, 140 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm slowly to ambient temperature and was poured into saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (750 mL) and the mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×750 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, then dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:Et₂O—100:0 to 0:100, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=367.1 (M+1).

Step E: tert-Butyl [(5S,6R & 5R,6S)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate

To a mixture of (5S,6R & 5R,6S)-3-azido-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one (1.80 g, 4.91 mmol) and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (1.18 g, 5.41 mmol) in EtOH (30 mL) was added 10% palladium on carbon (200 mg, 0.19 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred vigorously under an atmosphere of hydrogen (ca. 1 atm) for 1 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite®, washing with EtOH, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a crude solid. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 30:70, to give the title compound. MS: m/z=463.2 (M+Na).

Step F: tert-Butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate

To a stirred solution of tert-butyl [(5S,6R & 5R,6S)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (4.90 g, 11.1 mmol) in EtOH (100 mL) was added potassium carbonate (3.84 g, 27.8 mmol) and the resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature and concentrated in vacuo to a volume of ca. 30 mL. The concentrated mixture was poured into saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (75 mL) and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×125 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 0:100, to give the racemic product. Separation of the enantiomers was achieved by HPLC on a ChiralPak® AD column, eluting with EtOH:hexanes:Et₂NH—80:20:0.02, to give tert-butyl [(3R,5R,6S)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate as the first major peak, and tert-butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate, the title compound, as the second major peak. MS: m/z=463.2 (M+Na).

Step G: (3S,5S,6R)-3-Amino-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride

A solution of tert-butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (402 mg, 0.913 mmol) in EtOAc (10 mL) was saturated with HCl (g) and aged for 30 min. The resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound. MS: m/z=341.0 (M+1); ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.20 (m, 1H), 6.94 (m, 1H), 4.78 (dq, 1H, J=15.4, 9.3 Hz), 4.26 (dd, 1H, J=12.1, 6.7 Hz), 4.08-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.73 (dq, 1H, J=15.4, 8.8 Hz), 2.57 (q, 1H, J=12.5 Hz), 2.36 (ddd, 1H, J=12.5, 6.6, 2.0 Hz), 1.07 (d, 3H, J=6.6 Hz).

Intermediate 8

(3S,5S,6R)-3-Amino-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride Step A: (5S,6R & 5R,6S)-6-Methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one

Essentially following the procedures described in Intermediate 7, but using 2,3,6-trifluorophenylboronic acid in place of 2,3,5-trifluorophenylboronic acid, the title compound was obtained. MS: m/z=326.0 (M+1).

Step B: (3S,5S,6R & 3R,5R,6S)-3-Azido-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one

To a stirred solution of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.0 M in THF, 4.80 mL, 4.80 mmol) in THF (20 mL) at −78° C. was added a cold (−78° C.) solution of (5S,6R & 5R,6S)-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one (1.30 g, 4.00 mmol) in THF (10 mL) dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below −65° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 30 min, then a cold (−78° C.) solution of 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl azide (Harmon et al. (1973) J. Org. Chem. 38, 11-16) (1.61 g, 5.20 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was added dropwise, keeping the internal temperature of the reaction mixture below −65° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 30 min, then AcOH (1.05 mL, 18.4 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm slowly to ambient temperature and was poured into saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (50 mL) and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×75 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, then dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 20:80, to give the diastereomeric azide products (3R,5S,6R & 3S,5R,6S)-3-azido-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one, which eluted second, and the title compound, which eluted first. MS: m/z=367.1 (M+1).

Step C: tert-Butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate

To a solution of (3S,5S,6R & 3R,5R,6S)-3-azido-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one (280 mg, 0.764 mmol) and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (217 mg, 0.994 mmol) in EtOH (5 mL) was added 10% palladium on carbon (25 mg, 0.024 mmol) and the resulting mixture was stirred vigorously under an atmosphere of hydrogen (ca. 1 atm) for 1 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite®, washing with EtOH, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a crude solid. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of hexanes:EtOAc—100:0 to 30:70, to give the racemic title compound. Separation of the enantiomers was achieved by SFC on a ChiralPak® IC column, eluting with CO₂:MeOH:CH₃CN—90:6.6:3.3, to give tert-butyl [(3R,5R,6S)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate as the first major peak, and tert-butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate, the title compound, as the second major peak. MS: m/z=463.2 (M+Na).

Step D: (3S,5S,6R)-3-Amino-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride

A solution of tert-butyl [(3S,5S,6R)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (122 mg, 0.277 mmol) in EtOAc (10 mL) was saturated with HCl (g) and aged for 30 min. The resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound. MS: m/z=341.1 (M+1); ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.33 (qd, 1H, J=9.3, 4.9 Hz), 7.05 (tdd, 1H, J=9.8, 3.7, 2.2 Hz), 4.78 (dq, 1H, J=15.4, 9.3 Hz), 4.22 (dd, 1H, J=12.2, 6.6 Hz), 4.06 (ddd, 1H, J=13.3, 4.5, 2.7 Hz), 3.97 (m, 1H), 3.73 (dq, 1H, J=15.4, 8.8 Hz), 2.91 (qt, 1H, J=12.7, 3.1 Hz), 2.36 (ddd, 1H, J=12.7, 6.4, 2.0 Hz), 1.22 (d, 3H, J=6.6 Hz).

The intermediates appearing in the following tables were prepared by analogy to the above intermediates, as described or prepared as a result of similar transformations with modifications known to those skilled in the art. The requisite starting materials were described herein, commercially available, known in the literature, or readily synthesized by one skilled in the art. Straightforward protecting group strategies were applied in some routes. In some cases, relevant experimental procedures are indicated in the tables.

TABLE 1

Inter- Relevant mediate R¹ Ar MS (M + 1) procedures  9 isopropyl 2,3-difluorophenyl 269.1 Int. 5 10 2-methylpropyl 2,3-difluorophenyl 283.2 Int. 5

TABLE 2

Relevant Intermediate R² Ar MS (M + 1) procedures 11 H 3,5-difluorophenyl 309.0 Int. 6 12 H 2,5-difluorophenyl 309.0 Int. 6 13 H 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl 327.0 Int. 6 14 H 2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl 324.9 Int. 6 15 H 2,6-dichlorophenyl 341.0 Int. 6 16 H 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl 326.9 Int. 6 17 Me 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl 359.0 Int. 7 18 Me 3-fluoro-2-methylphenyl 319.1 Int. 7

Example 1

(2R)—N-[(3S,5S,6R)-6-Methyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxamide

Benzotriazol-1-yl-oxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (679 mg, 1.53 mmol) was added to a solution of (2R)-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid (described in Intermediate 1) (364 mg, 1.30 mmol), (3S,5S,6R)-3-amino-6-methyl-5-phenyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride (described in Intermediate 4) (380 mg, 1.18 mmol), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (2.06 mL, 11.8 mmol) in DMF (6 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was then diluted with water (200 mL), and the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water, and air dried. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel, eluting with hexanes initially, grading to 100% EtOAc to afford the title compound. HRMS: m/z=549.2123, calculated m/z=549.2108 for C₃₀H₂₈F₃N₄O₃. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.74 (s, 1H), 8.14 (dd, 1H, J=5.3, 1.5 Hz), 7.76 (s, 1H), 7.73 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.37-7.33 (m, 3H), 7.28 (t, 1H, J=7.6 Hz), 7.22-7.19 (m, 3H), 7.00 (d, 1H, J=7.4 Hz), 6.82 (dd, 1H, J=7.4, 5.3 Hz), 4.99-4.89 (1H, m), 4.53 (dt, 1H, J=11.6, 5.9 Hz), 3.93 (p, 1H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.69 (dd, 2H, J=16.1, 9.5 Hz), 3.64 (m, 1H), 3.34-3.24 (m, 1H), 3.11 (dd, 2H, J=16.0, 6.5 Hz), 2.81 (m, 1H), 2.56 (q, 1H, J=12.5 Hz), 1.06 (d, 3H, J=6.5 Hz).

Example 2

(2R)—N-[(3S,5S,6R)-5-(3-Chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxamide

A solution of the racemate tert-butyl [(3S,5S,6R and 3R,5R,6S)-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]carbamate (described in Intermediate 4) (325 mg, 0.772 mmol) and 4 M HCl in 1,4-dioxane (1.93 mL, 7.72 mmol) in dichloromethane (8 mL) was stirred at 23° C. for 2 h. The mixture was then concentrated to dryness. Benzotriazol-1-yl-oxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (444 mg, 1.00 mmol) was added to a solution of the residue, (2R)-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid (described in Intermediate 1) (216 mg, 0.772 mmol), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (0.674 mL, 3.86 mmol) in DMF (8 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was purified by reverse-phase HPLC, eluting with 5% acetonitrile in water (0.1% TFA used as a modifier) initially, grading to 95% acetonitrile in water. The desired fractions were partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give the title compound and its diastereomer (2R)—N-[(3R,5R,6S)-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)piperidin-3-yl]-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxamide. The diasteromers were separated by normal-phase HPLC using a ChiralCel® OD column, eluting with 40% hexane in ethanol (0.1% diethylamine used as a modifier) to afford the title compound as the second diastereomer to elute. HRMS: m/z=583.1708, calculated m/z=583.1718 for C₃₀H₂₇ClF₃N₄O₃. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 9.32 (s, 1H), 8.15 (dd, 1H, J=5.4, 1.5 Hz), 7.75 (s, 1H), 7.73 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.33-7.27 (m, 4H), 7.20 (s, 1H), 7.10 (d, 1H, J=7.1 Hz), 7.00 (dd, 1H, J=7.3, 1.5 Hz), 6.82 (dd, 1H, J=7.3, 5.4 Hz), 4.98-4.93 (1H, m), 4.48 (dt, 1H, J=11.0, 5.4 Hz), 3.91 (p, 1H, J=6.0 Hz), 3.68 (dd, 2H, J=15.9, 12.7 Hz), 3.62 (dt, 1H, J=13.7, 3.4 Hz), 3.32-3.27 (m, 1H), 3.10 (dd, 2H, J=16.1, 10.0 Hz), 2.77 (m, 1H), 2.59 (q, 1H, J=12.5 Hz), 1.08 (d, 3H, J=6.5 Hz).

Example 3

(2R)—N-[(3S,5S,6R)-6-Methyl-2-oxo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl]-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxamide hydrochloride

To a stirred mixture of (2R)-2′-oxo-1,1′,2′,3-tetrahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine]-5-carboxylic acid (described in Intermediate 1) (40 mg, 0.143 mmol), (3S,5S,6R)-3-amino-6-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-2-one hydrochloride (described in Intermediate 7) (49 mg, 0.130 mmol), HOBT (24 mg, 0.156 mmol), and EDC (30 mg, 0.156 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) was added N,N-diisopropylethylamine (0.057 mL, 0.325 mmol), and the resulting mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 3 h. The reaction mixture was then poured into saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (5 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×5 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography, eluting with a gradient of CH₂Cl₂:MeOH:NH₄OH—100:0:0 to 90:10:0.1, to give the product, which was treated with HCl in EtOAc at 0° C. to afford the title compound. HRMS: m/z=603.1826 (M+1), calculated m/z=603.1825 for C₃₀H₂₅F₆N₄O₃. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.14 (dd, 1H, J=6.3, 1.2 Hz), 7.84-7.81 (m, 2H), 7.69 (dd, 1H, J=7.3, 1.2 Hz), 7.44 (d, 1H, J=8.5 Hz), 7.28 (dd, 1H, J=7.3, 6.3 Hz), 7.14 (m, 1H), 6.93 (m, 1H), 4.80 (dq, 1H, J=15.4, 9.3 Hz), 4.53 (dd, 1H, J=11.5, 7.1 Hz), 4.05 (m, 1H), 3.97 (d, 1H, J=14.2 Hz), 3.68 (m, 1H), 3.64 (d, 2H, J=16.4 Hz), 3.35 (d, 2H, J=16.4 Hz), 2.87 (q, 1H, J=12.5 Hz), 2.23 (m, 1H), 1.19 (d, 3H, J=6.6 Hz).

The examples appearing in the following tables were prepared by analogy to the above examples, as described or prepared as a result of similar transformations with modifications known to those skilled in the art. The requisite starting materials were described herein, commercially available, known in the literature, or readily synthesized by one skilled in the art. Straightforward protecting group strategies were applied in some routes.

TABLE 3

Calculated Example R² Ar HRMS (M + 1) m/z (M + 1)  4 H 3,5-difluorophenyl 571.1774 571.1763  5 H 2,3-difluorophenyl 571.1785 571.1763  6 H 2,5-difluorophenyl 571.1758 571.1763  7 H 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl 589.1669 589.1669  8 H 2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl 587.1471 587.1468  9 H 2,6-dichlorophenyl 603.1177 603.1172 10 H 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl 589.1685 589.1669 11 Me 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl 621.1712 621.1731 12 Me 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl 603.1830 603.1825 13 H 2-fluorophenyl 553.1880 553.1857

TABLE 4

HRMS Calculated Example R¹ Ar (M + 1) m/z (M + 1) 14 2-methylpropyl 2,3-difluorophenyl 545.2380 545.2359 15 isopropyl 2,3-difluorophenyl 531.2221 531.2202

TABLE 5

Calculated Example R² Ar HRMS (M + 1) m/z (M + 1) 16 Me phenyl 574.2064 574.2061 17 Me 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl 628.1777 628.1778 18 Me 2,3,6-trifluorophenyl 628.1778 628.1778 

1. A compound of Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is —C(R⁸)═ wherein R⁸ is hydrogen, F or CN; R¹ is C₁₋₄alkyl which is substituted with one or more F; R² is selected from hydrogen and methyl; R³ is —F; R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ are —H, or —F, with the proviso that if R² is methyl, R⁵ is selected to be —H; 2-14. (canceled)
 15. A compound of claim 1 which is

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 16. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an inert carrier and a compound of claim 2, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 17. A method of treating headache in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, which comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 2, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 18-20. (canceled) 